Networking the Easy Way

If you've been a fan of this newsletter or the Win the Day podcast for a while, you'll know how often I talk about relationships.

Quite simply, there's no greater amplifier — for your health, career, and life — than relationships.

But, like anything worthwhile, it's going to require a little effort on your behalf.

One of the biggest limiting beliefs I've heard in the last three years is that "I can't upgrade my network because it's much harder to see people in person..."

We know it's a limiting belief because it's actually become much easier to connect with people all over the world, given the fast adoption of Zoom, improvements in mobile technologies, and abundance of platforms to declare who you help and what value you can add.

But there's one avenue for relationships that is highly underrated: books. That's right, you can get unlimited access to any mentor you like through the written word.

All the people I interviewed for Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy mentioned how great it was to be able to have people like Napoleon Hill, Andrew Carnegie, and Henry Ford on their personal board of directors — to guide them through every one of life's obstacles with wisdom, strength, and courage whenever they needed it.

That's why one of the most important things you can do, if you’re serious about your future, is read. There isn’t a single problem of yours that hasn’t been faced by someone else in the history of humanity, and it’s a near certainty that the solution you’re after is readily available for you in a book right now.

Literally every book I’ve read has changed my life, both through the content and the ideas that are spawned from the content.

In fact, I just started a habit of reading at least 50% of a book before I go to bed. I'm not reading it to memorize every word, but to absorb it's most important lessons, map out my subsequent actions, and implement. It's a far better ROI than staring at your phone before sleep.

A little while ago, I interviewed my good friend Jeff Brown, who is an award-winning podcaster. He shared this:

"I asked a Wharton School of Business professor about his thoughts on intentional and consistent reading and how that's played a role in his professional life. He said, "I view it as having coffee with the author. I ask myself, who do I want to have coffee with? Then I pick and choose my mentors and the books I'm going to read based on the answer to that question."?

So simple. I mean, you're already having your coffee, aren't you!? You might as well boost your IQ at the same time.

Not to mention most books are now available as an audiobook so you can have someone literally read it to you if that's your preference.

On his own career trajectory, Jeff continued:

“When the right books were presented to me, it was like all the stars and planets aligned. I was like, "Gosh, this stuff has been out there all this time and I've not been taking advantage of this!?"

As I began diving into these books, I chose books based on where I wanted to be in my career (versus where I was), and skills I wanted to cultivate that I knew would help me in my career, like public speaking.?

I realized that just by doing those things, I was practicing something consistently that most of my colleagues did not. That one habit alone — reading on a regular basis — separated me from most of my peers and got me noticed.

The things that I began to implement and try in my job, the things that failed, nobody remembered. But the things that did work, people noticed and that presented to me new opportunities, new experiences, and chances to do things other people weren't getting the chance to do.?

I attribute that upward trajectory in the last 7-8 years to the consistent and intentional reading I do. It's singularly responsible for the largest part of my success.”

So if you’re serious about getting to the next level in your life, business, and relationships, fill your mind with positive, practical, and powerful content by reading books for at least 20 minutes every day.

It's the greatest networking hack there is.

Onward and upward always,

James Whittaker

PS?— Hit 'Subscribe' because next week I'll be sharing my best book recommendations from 2022...

In case you missed it: The Attitude of Gratitude.

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